With more New Jersey residents saying Governor Christie is not being completely honest about the controversy over the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge last September, his approval rating in a new Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press survey is down nine points since January.

Results of the poll released Monday now show Christie getting 50 percent approval from those surveyed, with 44 percent disapproving. And only 49 percent of the registered voters who were polled approved of Christie’s job performance, the first time he’s dropped below 50 percent in the Monmouth Poll since 2011.

Christie’s handling of the state’s recovery from Superstorm Sandy also took a hit in the new poll, with just 4-in-10 giving the Republican governor a grade of “A” or “B.” During last year’s bid for re-election, a full 70 percent graded Christie’s handling of the Sandy recovery an “A” or “B.”

“This hole is getting deeper,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “Christie’s image as the hero of Sandy is now just a fading memory.”

The poll of 803 New Jersey residents conducted between Feb. 19-23 also found 61 percent now believe Christie is not being completely honest about what he knows of the bridge lane scandal, up from the 51 percent measured in January.

And now 50 percent believe he was personally involved — something Christie has repeatedly denied — up from 40 percent.

With more New Jersey residents saying Governor Christie is not being completely honest about the controversy over the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge last September, his approval rating in a new Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press survey is down nine points since January.

Results of the poll released Monday now show Christie getting 50 percent approval from those surveyed, with 44 percent disapproving. And only 49 percent of the registered voters who were polled approved of Christie’s job performance, the first time he’s dropped below 50 percent in the Monmouth Poll since 2011.

Christie’s handling of the state’s recovery from Superstorm Sandy also took a hit in the new poll, with just 4-in-10 giving the Republican governor a grade of “A” or “B.” During last year’s bid for re-election, a full 70 percent graded Christie’s handling of the Sandy recovery an “A” or “B.”

“This hole is getting deeper,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “Christie’s image as the hero of Sandy is now just a fading memory.”

The poll of 803 New Jersey residents conducted between Feb. 19-23 also found 61 percent now believe Christie is not being completely honest about what he knows of the bridge lane scandal, up from the 51 percent measured in January.

And now 50 percent believe he was personally involved — something Christie has repeatedly denied — up from 40 percent.